Rare Neurologic Disease Causing Severe Shoulder Pain Resolved with Chiropractic

A patient with a rare and very painful neurological disease, Parsonage Turner Syndrome, was helped by chiropractic care. This according to a case study published in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic on August 11, 2022.

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) describes this rare condition. "Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS) is an uncommon neurological disorder characterized by rapid onset of severe pain in the shoulder and arm. This acute phase may last for a few hours to a few weeks and is followed by wasting and weakness of the muscles (amyotrophy) in the affected areas."

The study reports that the condition may occur in slightly more than 1 in 1000 people in a year and is twice as common in men than woman. The most common area affected is the brachial plexus which is the a complex of nerves in the shoulder that carry signals from the spinal cord in the neck to the arms and hands.

Parsonage Turner Syndrome, sometimes called plexus neuritis or neuralgic amyotrophy, typically begins with severe acute pain in the shoulder area that can either be unilateral or bilateral and that may last anywhere from a few days to a few months. Numbness and other sensory disturbances typically also occur. As the condition progresses, the person will experience severe muscular atrophy and weakness in the shoulders and arms. In many cases this condition will self-resolve, but it may take years to do so.

In this case, a 37-year-old man was experiencing excruciating bilateral shoulder girdle pain. The man initially sought care from his primary care medical doctor and was given pain medication and a steroid pack. Although the pain medication did provide relief, the man noted that three days later he had lost some range of motion of his right shoulder. After an MRI, a surgeon recommended cervical disc fusion surgery.

After declining to go the surgical route the man sought chiropractic care. Chiropractic care, along with exercise, vitamins and therapy was started on a regular basis. During his care, regular evaluations were conducted to monitor his progress. The study noted that the man continued to improve over several months of care.

The study reports that at the conclusion of care "…a final evaluation was performed in which all strength and range of motion returned and he was able to perform all previous activities of daily living."

One of the major issues today with the medical treatment of severe painful conditions is the addiction problems associated with opioid usage. The authors of this study address this issue by saying. "Currently, no global treatment exists for neuralgic amyotrophy. During its initial onset, opioids may help alleviate the pain, but offer no benefit in terms of recovery; in addition, the risk of addiction has to be considered."